While our backgrounds and experiences are diverse, we share a deep commitment to Jesus Christ, to each other, and our neighbors. Watch these stories of faith in the everyday lives of Mormons. You can also meet Mormons here.

Our faith influences nearly every aspect of our lives. Beyond simply believing in Jesus Christ, we try to bring His teachings to life at home, at work and in our communities. Here are a few of the cultural priorities embraced by members of the Church around the world.

We are all spiritual children of a loving
Heavenly Father who sent us to this earth to learn and grow in a mortal state. As Mormons,
we are followers of Jesus Christ. We live our lives
to serve Him and teach of His eternal plan for each of us.

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Hi I'm Ed W

I love languages, computers—when they do what I want—music, and my family, and I'm a Mormon.

About Me

If it has to do with foreign languages or computers, there's a good chance I'm interested in it. And if it combines the two--well, that's just peachy.
My work involves getting software released in a variety of languages. I'm a software localization engineer. Few people really know what that is. You could say that I fit somewhere between a software programmer and a translator. I don't do either of the two jobs, but I do just about anything else in between to make sure our company's software will work in many different languages.
I enjoy music, as well. I sing in my church choir, and love to go caroling. It warms my heart to see people's faces light up when they open the door to a group singing uplifting songs. Our family also sings occasionally at various places such as nursing homes.
Fatherhood has been a great blessing to me. My wife and I were blessed with seven children. In spite of all the challenges that brings, we have also had many great joys because of them. But we are in shrinking mode--more than half of them have moved on to college, and even to marriage. And now we have a wonderful granddaughter to add to the joy of our lives!

Why I am a Mormon

I am a descendant of many Mormon pioneer ancestors. I, and my siblings, parents, grandparents, and even all my great grandparents were born in Utah. It would seem inevitable that I would be Mormon.
But it is not inevitable. Ultimately, we each have the choice of what we believe and how we live. I am a Mormon because of the peace and calm that I feel in living according to the things I've learned.
My parents did their best to teach me the truth. One thing they taught me is to study the gospel of Jesus Christ, then try it out—live it, and see if life isn't better by living it.
Life is better when we live the gospel! I have read the scriptures and felt the warm feelings of the Holy Ghost confirm the truth of them. I have prayed to God with specific questions, and have felt and seen His answers to me. I have felt the good feelings that come from serving others. I have had thoughts come to my mind in the moment I needed them. I am certain God wants me to be a Mormon, so I am.

How I live my faith

My faith touches every aspect of my life. At home, I have a wonderful wife who shares my convictions. We have seven children because we felt God wanted us to, and has given us the means to support them. We pray with them every day. We read the scriptures with them. We have a weekly Family Home Evening where we have a gospel-oriented discussion or service project or activity. (We like to include music, family history, and a treat with Family Home Evening, too!)
I realized early on in my parenting career that the very best way to teach my children how to live is to live how I expect them to live. So if I want my kids to go to church, I take them. If I want them to turn off questionable entertainment, I turn it off. If I want them to talk nicely to each other, I do the same.
The Church offers a daily religion class to high school students. (We call it “Seminary”.) I believe it is a great way for them to learn the gospel and keep strong in their faith. So, for the last nine-and-a-half years, I have driven almost every school morning to take one or more of my kids to Seminary. I even taught Seminary for four years. At times it was really difficult to do, but I believe it is eternally worth it.
My faith also touches my public life. I have to be honest in all my dealings. That includes giving a full day's work for a day's pay, and treating others with respect. As a Mormon, that also means not drinking alcohol, not smoking, and not abusing drugs.
Most of my friendships result from my Church membership. We spend a lot of time together because of the various Church programs and activities. One thing I love to participate in is the volleyball and basketball leagues. Other members become part of my extended family, which is a great blessing since we live over thousand miles away from any blood relatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why did your church previously practice plural marriage (polygamy)?

We believe that normally a man should have only one wife. In rare circumstances that I don't fully understand, God may temporarily command the practice of plural marriage. The Bible prophets Abraham and his grandson Jacob each had more than one wife, but for the most part in the scriptural record, marriage was one man, one woman.
For a time during the 19th Century, we believe that God, by revelation through a modern-day prophet, commanded some of our membership to practice polygamy. However, it was temporary. Thus after a few decades, the practice was terminated, again by revelation through a modern-day prophet. Now we are back to the usual case--no polygamy.
One day, I hope to better understand all of God's purposes. As I grow older, study the gospel, and gain more life experience, there are many things I do understand better. But I'm also content to realize that there are some things I may not fully understand until after this life. This doctrine is one that I expect might have to wait until then.
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The short answer is that, for a time, God commanded it. It was a challenge for those families commanded to practice it, but they accepted the challenge with faith.
There have been many times throughout history that God has asked His people to do difficult things or things that go against the norms of society. For example, God has commanded plural marriage in the Bible. He commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, stopping it at the last minute. He commanded the ancient Israelites to destroy all inhabitants of many of the settlements in the land of Canaan when they returned to the promised land.
The knowledge of these things challenges our faith but we must recognize that God's ways are not our ways and He controls all life.
If plural marriage is something that keeps you from the church or keeps you from investigating further, I invite you to consider this: it really comes down to one thing. Was Joseph Smith a true prophet or not? If he was, then the commandment came from God and He restored His church through Joseph. Answer that question and the rest falls into place. I am happy that I did.
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What is the Book of Mormon?

The Book of Mormon is a sacred record like the Bible. Christ's church existed in Ancient America as well as in Ancient Israel, and it generated hundreds of years' worth of its own miracles, revelations, and inspiring events. A prophet named Mormon abridged the records of the Ancient American church, and the resulting book was therefore called the Book of Mormon.
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